Ian Holloway doesn't want rollercoaster season to end - 10 years on from Blackpool's promotion to the Premier League

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be dipping into the archives to bring you STEVE CANAVAN’S Gazette reports from a decade ago on Blackpool’s remarkable journey to the promised land.

On this day 10 years ago, Ian Holloway was reacting to Blackpool’s fourth win on the trot, the 2-0 victory against Doncaster Rovers…

Ian Holloway admits he is enjoying the season so much he doesn’t want it to end … and says with a bit of luck it will last three extra matches.

The Seasiders recorded their fourth straight win by beating Doncaster, giving their play-off hopes another major boost and ruining Rovers’ chances in the process.

Victories for Leicester City and Swansea City though mean it’s as you were – Pool remain a point from a play-off place.

The final four games will be tense affairs, but for Holloway it’s a case of bring them on – he is loving every minute.

“I am bursting with pride and everything at this club is fantastic,” said the boss, visibly delighted after Pool’s latest three-point haul.

“The players are rocking, the support is rocking. Who knows what is going to happen but we’ve four games left and we are still in with a shout.

“If we lose the next game, and then the next one after that, maybe our season will be finished.

“But if we don’t… wouldn’t it be fantastic to go into the last game against Bristol City, even if it is like it is now, just a point or two away from the top six?

“It would be terrifically exciting. I wouldn’t be able to sleep for a week before.

“Mind you I couldn’t sleep on Sunday night to be fair.

“I was going over my options and what team I’d pick – I just couldn’t wait for the game.

“The lads did me proud again and although the other results went against us on the day, we have given ourselves a right good chance.

“All I can say is that I am loving it and I don’t want the season to end.

“Can we get some extra games on the end of the season? Who knows, but what a fantastic journey this has been.”

Pool’s victory means they have taken 12 points from the last 15, at a stage of the season when the pressure is the greatest.

Holloway believes that is the sign of a fine team.

“It’s the sign of strength in depth and a good team to get that number of points when you need them,” said the manager.

“We had a little spell where we didn’t have as many options. Against Swansea I put Danny Mitchley as sub. So since then we’ve had a number of players who have got fit again.

“I am flabbergasted by how good the squad is. We had 12 strikers at one time.

“Everybody was moaning when I added Stephen Dobbie and DJ Campbell to the ones I had here. But a few got injured so it was the right thing to do.

“If you look at one of our best performances of the season – Swansea at home – the lad who scored two in that game has had an operation on his hand, but even without Brett Ormerod the lads have carried on.

“Neal Eardley has been out but it looks like Seamus Coleman – on loan from Everton – grew up here. What a fantastic player he is.

“So it is all about growing and building and sticking together, and we have some fantastic players.

“Unfortunately so has the rest of the league as well.

“But for what we are doing here and what we are paying our boys, I am absolutely bursting with pride for them. They have deserved this.”

The Seasiders’ next test couldn’t be tougher – a trip to Newcastle United, who have already been promoted back to the Premier League and are unbeaten at home all season.

Then Pool welcome Nottingham Forest and travel to Peterborough, before closing the campaign with a home match against Bristol City.

“Obviously the closer to the end of the season the harder it gets for us and the more the pressure builds,” added Holloway.

“But when you get close to that finish line you never know what is going to happen.

“To produce wins when you need to means you have to be able to finish and that’s what pleased me about yesterday – the quality of the finishing was absolutely outstanding.

“But we have good players all over the pitch, not just up front. The lads deserve massive credit.”